Is the Church still fit for purpose?

[_Drifting]

The Church and it's programmes are designed specifically to:
1. Preach the Gospel
2. Redeem the dead
3. Perfect the saints

These programmes, schedules, activities and structure were set up for a Mormon society that was ill educated (in terms of Mormonism) and was primarily in large family units.

Time has moved on.

Mormon society (wether overtly or covertly) is now a spectrum of singles, gays, feminists as well as families which are shrinking in size. Mormons are also increasingly less naïve in terms of the hidden side of Morminism.

It seems to me that the programmes of the Church are 'primary' level in their output. The three fold mission of the Church is not being met beyond a very basic level.

If you were in charge, how would you restructure or revitalise, to better achieve the stated objectives?

[_UnicornMan]

There are a lot of changes I would make.

1) I would unbundle the Bishop's position so he is free to actually meet the needs of the members on a larger scale. Many of the Bishop I know can't handle the volume of work in their callings. There is just far too much. I would call Ward Welfare Directors who handle all the welfare cases and have full authority to disburse funds with two signatures.

2) I would invest more in LDS Social Services so members can actually get access to professional counseling, not counseling from a good man who is simply shooting from the hip all the time.

3) I would expand the emphasis on making Ward programs good, including bigger budgets for the adult quorums and auxiliaries. The Bishops are so busy with welfare issues its almost as if their attitude is "we don't mind if you try to have good Ward programs". This could mean making Stakes more responsible for putting on larger scale activities every month to relieve the Wards. Outlaw the Stake auxiliaries assigning STake events to a Ward to put on, which in teh past adds further to their burden and sapping their budgets.

4) I would make sacrament meeting shorter, and give the time back to the members. It's a one-way talking meeting and probably the low point of my entire week. Instead, have one itinerant speakers who is set apart for their speaking ability who travel around the Stake and truly uplift the members with valuable talks at least once a month -- HC are great, but if they aren't good speakers, it doesn't help the members much. Stop making Sacrament meeting another duty that you have to pretend to enjoy.

[_moksha]

You may have missed it, but the LDS Church's 4th mission statement is to help the poor and needy.

[_Morley]

Change the focus of all missionary work. Quietly create service missions not devoted to preaching but to building the world. Even if only considered from a strictly Machiavellian, self-serving angle, the public relations benefit would be enormous.

[_Morley]

Harmony is going to say: "Open the books." She might be right.

[_UnicornMan]

You may have missed it, but the LDS Church's 4th mission statement is to help the poor and needy.

I knew that -- and I think it supports my concept of a Ward Welfare Director since the addition of the fourth mission represents a greater area of emphasis. Although I have seen no real changes in how we do welfare in the Church.

Change the focus of all missionary work. Quietly create service missions not devoted to preaching but to building the world. Even if only considered from a strictly Machiavellian, self-serving angle, the public relations benefit would be enormous.

Yep -- I've never really thought of proselyting missions as "service". It is too self-serving. Service missions would be a welcome change.

Open the books...

I would like to see that, but it won't happen. GBH considered doing it back in the 1990's. But changed his mind. I felt he got kind of bruised in some of his interviews back then and learned his lesson. It's no secret there is a gravy train, and who knows what the future will bring. Few of the top bananas would agree to interrupting it during this period of prosperity for the Church....

[_Drifting]

Can anyone offer a reason for why the Church doesn't do what Unicorn and Morely suggest?

They are, in my opinion, sensible ideas that would move the Lords work forward far quicker and in a far more Christlike manner than is currently happening.

[_Drifting]

You may have missed it, but the LDS Church's 4th mission statement is to help the poor and needy.

I'm aware of this, but unless you can find it officially stated somewhere it will have to be filed under 'urban myth'.

[_moksha]

I'm aware of this, but unless you can find it officially stated somewhere it will have to be filed under 'urban myth'.

Here are some reports about it:

http://blog.moregoodfoundation.org/943/mormon-mission-statement-expanded-by-church-leaders

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/article_df91a66e-e5d1-11de-aad6-001cc4c002e0.html

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705350795/LDS-to-boost-emphasis-on-helping-the-needy-Salt-Lake-Temple-not-closing.html

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=8984614

From LDS.org:

In fulfilling its purpose to help individuals and families qualify for exaltation, the Church focuses on divinely appointed responsibilities. These include helping members live the gospel of Jesus Christ, gathering Israel through missionary work, caring for the poor and needy, and enabling the salvation of the dead by building temples and performing vicarious ordinances.

http://LDS.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/priesthood-principles?lang=eng#2.2

[_Drifting]

In fulfilling its purpose to help individuals and families qualify for exaltation, the Church focuses on divinely appointed responsibilities. These include helping members live the gospel of Jesus Christ, gathering Israel through missionary work, caring for the poor and needy, and enabling the salvation of the dead by building temples and performing vicarious ordinances.

http://LDS.org/handbook/handbook-2-administering-the-church/priesthood-principles?lang=eng#2.2[/quote]

Thanks Moksha